bojojoti

This review is for both Flourished Peony and its sequel, In the Name of Blossom.

The Good:
• I reveled in the relationship of the leads after they were truthful about their feelings. They were so much fun together with their teasing and bickering. They respected one another's abilities and choices. The confidence they showed in one another was a joy to view. Unfortunately, the writers felt the need to put the brakes on all that and threw in misunderstandings and a separation in season two.
• I loved the flowers. I can't say Mu Dan was an expert gardener, though. One can't take roughly transplanted, wilted peonies and revive them overnight with fertilizer. It would be like feeding a T-bone steak to someone in intensive care. Transplanted peonies would be in shock and wouldn't revitalize instantly. It was hilarious to have potted plants growing in dark rooms, peonies flowering year 'round, and roses growing indoors. I like dramas that teach me something, but this taught everything incorrectly about growing peonies and roses! It was ridiculous that Mu Dan dug up a few wild peonies and they managed to be divided into hundreds of full, bushy plants in a matter of days. I'll still keep this in the "Good" category simply because I like flowers.
• Miles Wei played the most complex character, Liu Chang. I didn't want him to be evil, because Miles has puppy dog eyes, but that's my issue, not his! I felt a certain sympathy for Liu Chang's early actions—his life had never been his own, and he'd been forced into a loveless marriage. However, unlike Mu Dan, he never tried to make the best of it and took out his frustrations on the innocent. He transformed his helplessness and anguish into anger, obsession, and a quest for power. He may have had the desire to be an outstanding person (if he'd had supportive parents or love), but he didn't have the drive to get there on his own merits. He blamed everyone but himself for his situations. He turned into a person who was always unhappy with what he had, unlike Mu Dan who learned to live life in the moment with as much happiness as she could muster. Be that as it may, Miles played his part with a creepiness I didn't know he had in him. Nice acting. I can't help wishing the writers hadn't given up on his nuanced character rather than making him an over-the-top villain, but that would have required more finesse.
• Li Xian played a very charming, interesting ML. Early on, he maintained a distance from people, as he had mapped his life and death out and didn't want distractions. However, when Mu Dan's irresistible force met his immovable self, he began to lose ground, almost against his will. His effortless charisma, devil-may-care attitude, and amused eyes were put to good use in season one. I wish there had been more of that in season two. I appreciated that he had such faith in Mu Dan's abilities, he didn't feel as if he had to step in and take over. He trusted her. He was there when she needed him, and she reciprocated.
• Sheng Yi's story hit me hard. I've been in Mu Dan's shoes with an abused friend. It took a long time for me to convince her to seek help. I was putting my family at risk by helping her, as her husband was a violent man (and he did end up threatening my family). At her first meeting with a counselor, another counselor took me aside and told me to prepare myself for her to return to her abuser. I was shocked at the very idea, and I was adamant in my protest that she would never do such a thing because the abuse had begun on her son. As long as it was only her being abused, she would suffer through, but she wouldn't put up with her son being hit. The counselor looked sad but told me it usually took seven or eight times of leaving before the woman left for good. I could not fathom that. Imagine my sense of shock and betrayal when the woman did just that and returned to her abuser. When Sheng Yi was saved by Mu Dan, I felt a pang of sadness and said aloud, "This won't end well." I was hopeful but pragmatic. The writer chose to complete this arc realistically.
• The costumes, styling, sets, and music were divine.

The Bad:
• The BIG CONFLICT scene was underwhelming. We were shown and repeatedly told how brilliant our antagonists were. That scene revealed it wasn't so! Where was Plan B, C, or even Z?
• It was easy to feel sympathy for the FL's plight as an exploited/used orphan. It was even easier to admire how she fought for her life step by step. Eventually, the FL became too much of a Mary Sue. She could do it all and outsmart everyone. That didn't make me dislike her character—she was far too admirable for that, but I wish the writer hadn't chosen to make her nearly indestructible and omnipotent. I realize the underlying theme was female empowerment, but there were times the pretty covering slipped, and I was bludgeoned by the message.

The first season of Flourished Peony was superior to the second, as In the Name of Blossom counted on dragged out, unnecessary misunderstandings (what happened to our favorite couple's ability to communicate?), fillers, and uninteresting characters (hello again, Liu Chang's crappy parents and Mu Dan's stepmom) to finish the story.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the capable couple. I'd love to spend more time with them in the backyard, grilling barbecue, sitting in the swing, or watching the stars.